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| {{Infobox Website | |||
| | name = 4chan | |||
| | logo = | |||
| | screenshot = ]<!-- We do not need to update this image every time the main page is updated. --> | |||
| | caption = The 4chan homepage on August 3, 2008 | |||
| | url = http://www.4chan.org/ | |||
| | commercial = Yes | |||
| | type = ] | |||
| | language = English | |||
| | registration = None available | |||
| | owner = "]" | |||
| | launch date = October 1, 2003<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.4chan.org/news.php?all#2 |title=Welcome |publisher=4chan |author=moot|date=2003-10-01|accessdate=2008-08-02}}</ref> | |||
| }} | |||
| '''4chan''' is an ] ] ]. Launched on October 1, 2003, its boards are primarily used for the posting of pictures and discussion of ] and ]. Users generally post anonymously and the site has been linked to a subculture of internet activism such as ] culture and ]. | |||
| The site has generated broad media attention. '']'' describes 4chan as "the cause of 9/11, im glad that the FBI documents all IP's on the site and sends them to Abu Grahid."<ref name=TakingRick /> and its members have been responsible for the formation and popularization of ]s such as ]s, ], and the popularity of the ] song "]". It has also received media attention for its attacks against other websites and Internet users, and for the threats of violence that have been posted on it. The site's "/wg/" board is by far 4chan's most popular and notorious. It is known as the "weegee" board, and there are minimal rules on posted content. | |||
| ==Background== | |||
| 4chan was started in 2003 in the bedroom of a 15-year-old student from New York City who uses the ] "moot".<ref name=wsj/> He intended the site to be a place to discuss ]s and ], an American counterpart to the popular Japanese Futaba Channel ("2chan") imageboard. moot purchased the ] space for 4chan using his mother's credit card, with her approval.<ref name=wsj /><ref name=time /> Prior to starting 4chan, moot had been a regular participant on the ] ].<ref name=TheStar /> | |||
| The activity of 4chan takes place on ]s and ]s.<Ref name=what4chan>{{cite web|url=http://www.4chan.org/faq.php#what4chan |title=FAQ - What is 4chan?|publisher=4chan|accessdate=2008-07-15}}</ref><ref name=Gawker /> The website is split into six categories: ], Interests, Creative, Adult (18+), Other, and Misc (18+). These provide for on-topic boards to discuss anime, ], technology, sport, photography, music, ], ]s, travel, physical fitness, and ]. 4chan originally hosted discussion boards on a separate domain called "world4ch", but these were later moved to the dis.4chan.org subdomain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.4chan.org/faq.php#were |title=FAQ - What were 4channel and world4ch?|publisher=4chan|accessdate=2008-07-15}}</ref> The site has one employee, a ] whom moot met via on-line '']''. All other ] are volunteers.<ref name=wsj /> | |||
| Because 4chan is provided to its users free of charge and consumes a large amount of ], its financing often becomes problematic. moot acknowledges that donations alone can not keep the site online, so he has turned to advertising to help make ends meet.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.4chan.org/news.php?all#95 |title=The long and short of it|publisher=4chan| author=moot| date=2008-02-12|accessdate=2008-08-02}}</ref> However, the pornographic content hosted on 4chan has deterred businesses who do not want to be associated with the site's content from advertising.<ref name=time /> 4chan's ] rank is generally around 1000,<ref name=Alexa>{{cite web|url=http://www.alexa.com/data/details/main/4chan.org |title=4chan.org - Site Information|publisher=]|accessdate=2008-09-13}}</ref> though it has been as high as number 56 at times.<ref name=landers /> 4chan is one of the Internet's most trafficked imageboards, according to '']''.<ref name=swat /> | |||
| Unlike most web forums, 4chan does not have a registration system, allowing users to post ].<ref name=TheStar>{{cite web|url=http://www.thestar.com/living/article/257955 |title=Funny how `stupid' site is addictive|publisher='']''|author=Jerry Langton|date=2007-09-22|accessdate=2008-07-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.4chan.org/faq.php#postanon |title=FAQ - How do I post anonymously?|publisher=4chan|accessdate=2008-07-16}}</ref> Any nickname may be used when posting, even one that has been previously adopted, such as "Anonymous" or "moot".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.4chan.org/faq.php#register |title=FAQ - Can I register a username?|publisher=4chan|accessdate=2008-07-16}}</ref> In place of registration, 4chan has provided ]s as an optional form of authenticating a poster's identity.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.4chan.org/faq.php#trip |title=FAQ - How do I use a "tripcode"?|publisher=4chan|accessdate=2008-07-16}}</ref> As making a post without filling in the "Name" field causes posts to be attributed to "Anonymous", general understanding on 4chan holds that Anonymous is not a single person but a collective (]) of users. This understanding has led to a ] referring to Anonymous as some kind of ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.4chan.org/faq.php#anonymous |title=FAQ - Who is "Anonymous"?|publisher=4chan|accessdate=2008-07-16}}</ref> Moderators will generally post without a name even when performing ] actions. A "capcode" may be used to attribute the post to "Anonymous ## Mod", although moderators often post without the capcode.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.4chan.org/faq.php#capcode |title=FAQ - What is a capcode?|publisher=4chan|accessdate=2008-07-16}}</ref> 4chan also has a junior moderation team, called "janitors", who may delete posts or images and suggest that the normal moderation team ban a user, but can not post with a capcode—revealing oneself as a janitor is grounds for dismissal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.4chan.org/faq#whojan | title=Faq - What are "janitors"?|publisher=4chan|accessdate=2009-01-12}}</ref> | |||
| ==Links to Anonymous and Project Chanology== | |||
| {{see also|Anonymous (group)|Project Chanology}} | |||
| 4chan has been labeled as the starting point of the ] meme by The '']'',<ref name="landers">{{cite news | author =Chris Landers | title =Serious Business | work =] | date =2008-03-02 | url =http://www.citypaper.com/columns/story.asp?id=15543 | accessdate = 2008-07-13 }}</ref> due to the norm of posts signed with the "Anonymous" moniker. The '']''{{'}}s David George-Cosh said it has been "widely reported" that Anonymous is associated with 4chan and ], as well as numerous ] channels.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canada.com/topics/technology/story.html?id=db57d8d2-ca06-4fe0-8a8b-4975100f7231 |title=Online group declares war on Scientology|publisher='']''|author=David George-Cosh|date=2008-01-25|accessdate=2008-07-13}}</ref> | |||
| Through its association with Anonymous, 4chan has become associated with ], a worldwide protest against the ] held by members of Anonymous. On January 15, 2008 a 4chan user posted to 4chan, suggesting participants "do something big" against the Church of Scientology's website. This message resulted in the Church receiving, by its own reports, more than 6,000 threatening phone calls. It quickly grew into a large real-world protest. Unlike previous Anonymous attacks, this action was characterized by 4chan inside jokes, including ]s and ] masks. The raid drew criticism from some 4chan users who felt it would bring the site unnecessary attention.<ref name="landers" /> | |||
| ==Memes== | |||
| ] are catchphrases or images that spread quickly, ], across the Internet.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2000/aug/10/technology |title=It's all in the memes|publisher='']''|author=Karl Hodge |date=2000-08-10|accessdate=2008-09-13}}</ref> Many Internet memes have originated on 4chan as its fast moving, ] nature enables content to quickly be passed on to large numbers of viewers. The most notable<!-- best choice of word? --> of these memes are ], ], and "]". Other memes originating on the site have gained media attention of a lesser degree. These include "So I herd u liek ]z"{{sic}}, which involves a phrase based on ], and which generated numerous YouTube tribute videos.<ref name=TheStar /> 4chan, and other websites, such as the satirical ], have also contributed to the development of significant amounts of ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article4173635.ece |title=Scientology: the Anonymous protestors|publisher='']''|author=Caitlin Moran |date=2008-06-20|accessdate=2008-08-25}}</ref> | |||
| ===Lolcats=== | |||
| {{main|lolcat}} | |||
| In 2005, the lolcat meme began on 4chan as "Caturday". Every Saturday, users posted pictures of cats with ]s relating to that day's theme.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/storage/paper882/news/2007/11/14/News/Iz.Not.Cats.Everywhere.Online.Trend.Spreads.Across.Campus-3099929.shtml |title = Iz not cats everywhere? Online trend spreads across campus|author=Paul Richards |publisher='']''|date=2007-11-14 |accessdate=2008-07-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://thephoenix.com/Article.aspx?id=55486|title = The cuteness surge|author=Sharon Steel |publisher='']'' |date=2008-02-01|accessdate=2008-07-24}}</ref> | |||
| ===Rickrolling=== | |||
| {{main|Rickrolling}} | |||
| In 2005, the meme of the "duckroll" began when moot used a ] to change "egg" to "duck" across 4chan. Thus, words such as "eggroll" were changed to "duckroll". This led to a ] in which external links disguised as relevant to a discussion instead lead to a picture of a duck on wheels.<ref name=FOXmemes>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,352010,00.html |title=The Biggest Little Internet Hoax on Wheels Hits Mainstream|publisher=]|date=2008-04-22|accessdate=2008-07-24}}</ref> | |||
| In March 2007, the ] for the video game '']'' was released. Its immense popularity caused publisher ]' website to ]. An unidentified 4chan user applied the duckroll on a link to the site to link to a ] video for ]'s "]" instead of a picture of a duck. Thus, the "rickroll" was born.<ref name=FOXmemes /> In an interview with the '']'', Astley said he found the meme "bizarre and funny".<ref name=TakingRick>{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/mar/19/news |title=Taking the Rick|publisher='']''|author=Sean Michaels|date=2008-03-19|accessdate=2008-07-24}}</ref><ref name=FOXmemes /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/webscout/2008/03/rick-astley-kin.html |title=Web Scout exclusive! Rick Astley, king of the 'Rickroll,' talks about his song's second coming|publisher='']''|date=2008-05-25|author=David Sarno|accessdate=2008-07-24}}</ref> | |||
| ==="Chocolate Rain"=== | |||
| {{main|Chocolate Rain}} | |||
| A link to the YouTube video of ]'s song "Chocolate Rain" was posted on /b/ on July 11, 2007.<ref name=4chanarchiveChocRain>{{cite web|url=http://4chanarchive.org/brchive/dspl_thread.php5?thread_id=32640395 |title=Thread 32640395|publisher=4chanarchive.org |accessdate=2008-07-14}}</ref> '']'' reported that 4chan posters urged each other to "swarm" the video on YouTube and thus increase its ranking.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://business.theage.com.au/business/youtube-research-shows-picture-is-changing-rapidly-20080716-3fn1.html?page=2 |title=YouTube research shows picture is changing rapidly|publisher='']''|author=Matthew Ricketson |date=2008-07-16|accessdate=2008-07-16}}</ref> The video became an immensely popular internet meme, resulting in cover versions by ] and ] drummer ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070815.WBmingram20070815141502/WBStory/WBmingram/ |title=Who is Tay Zonday?|publisher='']''|author=Mathew Ingram|date=2007-08-15|accessdate=2008-07-14}}</ref> The portion of the song in which Zonday turns away from the microphone, with a caption stating "I move away from the mic to breathe in", became a an oft-repeated meme on 4chan and inspired remixes.<ref name=4chanarchiveChocRain /><Ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22170787-5012327,00.html |title=Chocolate Rain goes huge|publisher=]|work=]|author=Garth Montgomery|date=2007-08-01|accessdate=2008-07-14}}</ref> | |||
| ==Media attention== | |||
| ===Internet attacks=== | |||
| {{seealso|eBaum's World#Controversy|l1=eBaum's World controversy|Anonymous (group)#KTTV Fox 11 news report|l2=KTTV Fox 11 news report|Sarah Palin email hack}} | |||
| On January 9, 2006, ] violated copyright laws in hosting an image of ] originally posted on ]. As a result, users of 4chan, YTMND, Something Awful, and ] participated in a "raid" against the site including a ] (DDoS) attack, and flooding of the website's ], ] and ]. The attack caused the forums to go offline for an unknown period of time.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.vitalsecurity.org/2006/01/lindsay-lohan-causes-massive-dos-war.html |title = Lindsay Lohan causes massive DoS war|author=Christopher Boyd|publisher= Vitalsecurity.org|date=2006-01-09|accessdate=2008-01-20}}<!-- RS: http://www.vitalsecurity.org/about.htm --></ref> | |||
| In December 2006 and January 2007, users of 4chan and other websites "raided" ] by launching DDoS attacks and ]ing his phone-in radio show. The attacks caused Turner's website to go offline. This cost thousands of dollars of bandwidth bills according to Turner. In response, Turner ]d 4chan, 7chan, and other websites; however, he lost his plea for an ] and failed to receive letters from the court.<ref name="halsuecopyright">{{cite web | url=http://dockets.justia.com/docket/court-njdce/case_no-2:2007cv00306/case_id-198438/ | publisher=Justia Federal District Court Filings | title=Harold C. "Hal" Turner v. 4chan.org | accessdate=2008-07-14|date=2007-01-19}}</ref> | |||
| On July 26, 2007, ] Fox 11 aired a report on "Anonymous", calling them a group of "hackers on steroids", "domestic terrorists", and collectively an "Internet hate machine".<ref name="foxnewsanonreport">{{cite web |url=http://www.myfoxla.com/myfox/pages/ContentDetail?contentId=3894628 |publisher=] (]) |work=MyFOX Los Angeles |title=FOX 11 Investigates: 'Anonymous' |date=2007-07-26 |accessdate=2007-08-11}}</ref> ] founder ] posted a comment made by another Slashdot user, Miang, stating that the story focused mainly on users of "4chan, 7chan and 420chan". Miang claimed that the report "seems to confuse /b/ raids and ] templates with a genuine threat to the American public", arguing that the "unrelated" footage of a van exploding shown in the report was to "equate anonymous posting with domestic terror".<ref name="slashdot">{{cite web|url=http://yro.slashdot.org/yro/07/07/28/1145204.shtml|title=AC = Domestic Terrorists?|accessdate=2008-07-24|author="Miang", ] (ed.)|date=2007-07-28|publisher=]}}<!-- RS: Owner of Slashdot (click wlink) --></ref> | |||
| On July 10, 2008, the ] symbol (卐) appeared at the top of ]'s ] list—a tally of the most popular search terms in the United States—for several hours. It was later reported that the ] ] for the symbol had been posted on /b/, with a request to perform a ] for the string. A multitude of /b/ visitors followed the order and pushed the symbol to the top of the chart, though Google later removed the result.<ref name=swat>{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-et-swastika12-2008jul12,0,7460743.story |title=Rise and fall of the Googled swastika|publisher='']''|author=David Sarno|date=2008-07-12|accessdate=2008-07-14}}</ref> | |||
| On September 17, 2008, the private ] account of ], ] ] candidate in the ], was ] by a 4chan user. This had followed criticism of Palin and other politicians supposedly using private email accounts for parliamentary work.<ref name=PalinAP>{{cite web|url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iem-vu_mlRjRYfqkscEkw2ciRm7wD938N1JO0 |title=Hackers claim break-in to Palin's e-mail account|publisher=]|author=Ted Bridis|date=2008-09-17|accessdate=2008-09-17}}</ref> The hacker posted the account's password on /b/, and ]s from within the account to ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theridiculant.metro.co.uk/2008/09/sarah-palins-em.html |title=Sarah Palin's email gets hacked|publisher='']''|author=Tom Phillips|date=2008-09-17|accessdate=2008-09-17}}</ref> A /b/ user then logged in and changed the password, posting a screenshot of his sending an email to a friend of Palin's informing her of the new password on the /b/ thread. However, he forgot to blank out the password in the screenshot.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1842097,00.html |title=Sarah Palin's E-mail Hacked|publisher='']''|author=M. J. Stephey|date=2008-09-17|accessdate=2008-09-17}}</ref> A multitude of /b/ users attempted to log in with the new password, and the account was automatically locked out by Yahoo!. The incident was criticized by some /b/ users, one of whom complained that "seriously, /b/. We could have changed history and failed, epically."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/webscout/2008/09/4chans-half-hac.html |title=4Chan's half-hack of Palin's email goes awry|publisher='']''|author=David Sarno|date=2008-09-17|accessdate=2008-09-17}}</ref> The ] and ] began investigating the incident shortly after its occurrence. On September 20 it was revealed they were questioning David Kernell, the son of ] ] ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsfactor.com/news/Suspect-Nabbed-in-Palin-E-mail-Hack/story.xhtml?story_id=110003SJWA8K |title=Suspect Nabbed in Palin E-mail Hack|publisher=NewsFactor|author=Steve Bosak |date=2008-09-20|accessdate=2008-09-21}}</ref> | |||
| The stock price of ] fell significantly in October 2008 after a hoax story was submitted to ]'s user-generated news site ] claiming that company CEO ] had suffered a major ]. The source of the story was traced back to 4chan.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10058410-93.html |title= | |||
| Who's to blame for spreading phony Jobs story? |work=] |first=Greg |last=Sandoval |date=October 4, 2008 |accessdate=January 11, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2008/10/03/friday-apple-links-steve-jobs-still-not-dead|accessdate=January 11, 2009 |title=Friday Apple links: Steve Jobs still not dead edition |date=October 3, 2008 |first=Jacqui |last=Cheng |work=]}}</ref> | |||
| ===Threats of violence=== | |||
| {{seealso|Jake Brahm}} | |||
| On October 18, 2006 the ] warned ] officials in Miami, New York City, Atlanta, Seattle, Houston, Oakland, and Cleveland about a possible threat involving the simultaneous use of ]s at stadiums.<ref name="bloombergnewsbombthreat">{{cite web| url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601079&sid=aVpJWbr6YesA&refer=home|title=Wisconsin Man Is Charged in Fake NFL Stadium Threats|publisher=Bloomberg.com|accessdate=2006-10-20 |author=Chris Dolmetsch, David Voreacos|date=2006-10-20}}</ref> The threat claimed that the attack would be carried out on October 22, the final day of the Muslim holy month of ].<ref name="internetnewsbombthreat">{{cite web| url=http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/3639301|title=Man Charged in Internet Bomb Threats|author=Roy Mark|publisher=InternetNews.com|date=2006-10-20|accessdate=2008-07-24}}</ref> Both the ] and the ] expressed doubt concerning the credibility of the threats, but warned the relevant organizations as a precaution. The games proceeded as planned but under a higher level of security awareness.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/10/nfl_stadium_thr.html |title=NFL Stadium Threat: Officials Skeptical But Issue Warning|publisher=]|author=Pierre Thomas |date=2006-10-16|accessdate=2008-07-21}}</ref> The threats came to light in the national media after blogger ] admitted to have posted the threats on 4chan and forty other websites.<ref name="internetnewsbombthreat" /> ] reported that the posts should not have been taken seriously as " would never take anything posted on 4chan as fact",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,363525,00.html |title=Ex-Grocery Clerk Gets 6 Months for NFL Stadium Attack Hoax|publisher=]|author=]|date=2008-06-05 |accessdate=2008-07-21}}</ref> while an ] official was quoted as saying the "credibility of was beyond ridiculous".<ref name=landers /> As a parody of the incident, 4chan temporarily added "Don't mess with football" as an additional rule for /b/.<ref name=landers /> | |||
| <blockquote class="toccolours" style="text-align:left; width:30%; float:right; padding: 10px 15px 10px 15px; display:table;">Hello, /b/. | |||
| On September 11, 2007, at 9:11 A.M. Central time, two pipe bombs will be remote-detonated at Pflugerville High School. | |||
| Promptly after the blast, I, along with two ther<!--sic--> Anonymous, will charge the building, armed with a Bushmaster AR-15, IMI Galil AR, a vintage, government-issue M1 .30 Carbine, and a Benelli M4 semi auto shotgun.<p style="text-align: right;">—The Pflugerville threat.</small><ref name=threat /></blockquote> | |||
| On October 20, 2006, Brahm turned himself in to federal authorities, and was charged with fabricating a fake terrorist threat and taken into custody.<ref name="nyctimesnflbombhoax">{{cite web| url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/21/us/21stadium.html?ex=1185681600&en=6f5000744e8dd0aa&ei=5070|title=Man, 20, Arrested in Stadium Threat Hoax|publisher='']''|author=Ronald Smothers|date=2006-10-20|accessdate=2007-07-27}}</ref> On February 28, 2008, he pled guilty to the federal charges. On June 5, 2008 he was sentenced to six months in prison, six months' house arrest, and ordered to pay $26,750 in ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/index.php/id;1900356524;fp;2;fpid;1 |title=Man gets six months for posting terror threat online|publisher='']''|author=Sharon Gaudin|date=2008-06-16|accessdate=2008-07-21}}</ref> | |||
| Around midnight on September 11, 2007, a student posted photographs of mock ]s and another photograph of him holding them while saying he would blow up his high school—Pflugerville High School in ], ]—at 9:11 a.m. on September 11.<ref name=threat>{{cite web|url=http://4chanarchive.org/brchive/dspl_thread.php5?thread_id=39101047|title=4chanarchive - Thread 39101047|publisher=4chanarchive.com|accessdate=2008-01-18 |date=2007-09-11}}</ref> Users of 4chan helped to track him down by finding the perpetrator's father's name in the ] data of a photograph he took, and contacted the police.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://4chanarchive.org/brchive/dspl_thread.php5?thread_id=39168208|title=4chanarchive - Thread 39168208|publisher=4chanarchive.com|accessdate=2008-01-18 |date=2007-09-11}}</ref> He was arrested before school began that day.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kxan.com/Global/story.asp?S=7058267|title=Pflugerville Student Arrested After Posting Bomb Threats|publisher=]|date=2007-09-12|accessdate=2008-01-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myfoxaustin.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=4324560&version=4&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1|title=Police Investigate Bomb Threat at Pflugerville High School|publisher=Fox Television Stations, Inc|date=2007-09-11|accessdate=2008-01-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news8austin.com/content/your_news/default.asp?ArID=191790|title=Teen arrested for threatening to blow up school|publisher=TWEAN News Channel of Austin, L.P. d.b.a. News 8 Austin|date=2007-09-11|accessdate=2008-01-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kvue.com/news/top/stories/091107kvueschoolthreat-cb.c37a07dc.html|title=Juvenile arrested in Pflugerville H.S. bomb threat|publisher=]|date=2007-09-11|accessdate=2008-01-18}}</ref> | |||
| Jarrad Willis, a 20-year-old from ], ] was arrested on December 8, 2007, for posting on 4chan that "I am going to shoot and kill as many people as I can until which time I am incapacitated or killed by the police". The post was accompanied by an image, uploaded by Willis, of a man who threatened a shopping mall near ] holding a shotgun. The post and image were later deleted from the site.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,316103,00.html |title=Australian Police Arrest Man Who Threatened to Attack Los Angeles Mall |publisher=]|author=]|date=2007-12-08|accessdate=2008-07-14}}</ref><Ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22892993-661,00.html |title=Student faces jail over online joke|publisher=]|work=]|author=Fiona Hudson, Liam Houlihan|date=2007-12-09|accessdate=2008-07-14}}</ref> Willis was charged with criminal defamation,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/12/09/america/NA-GEN-US-Blogger-Threat.php |title=US student arrested in connection with Internet threat of campus shooting in Los Angeles|publisher=]|author=]|date=2007-12-09|accessdate=2009-01-12}}</ref> but died before the case was heard.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=606851 |title=Mall massacre hoax accused dies|publisher=]|author=Shaun Davies|date=2008-07-31 |accessdate=2008-07-31}}</ref> | |||
| ===moot's identity=== | |||
| ]]] | |||
| moot's alleged real-world identity—"Christopher Poole"—was revealed on July 9, 2008 in '']''.<ref name=wsj>{{cite web|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121564928060441097.html |title=Modest Web Site Is Behind a Bevy of Memes|publisher='']''|author=Jamin Brophy-Warren|date=2008-07-09|accessdate=2008-07-24}}</ref> That day, ] of '']'' published an interview describing his influence as a non-visible administrator as "one of the most " on the evolution of content collaboration. Although Grossman's article began with the confession that "I don't even know his real name", he claimed to identify moot as Christopher Poole.<ref name=time>{{cite web|url=http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1821435,00.html |title=The Master of Memes|publisher='']''|author=]|date=2008-07-09 |accessdate=2008-07-24}}</ref> Later, on July 10, Grossman admitted that there was an outside chance that Christopher Poole was not moot's real name, but instead an obscure reference to a 4chan inside joke.<ref name=blog>{{cite web|url=http://time-blog.com/nerd_world/2008/07/now_in_papervision_the_4chan_g.html |title=Now in Paper-Vision: The 4chan Guy|publisher='']''|author=]|date=2008-07-10 |accessdate=2008-07-24}}</ref> Prior to the ''Wall Street Journal'' and ''TIME'' interviews, moot deliberately kept his real identity separate from 4chan. He told Grossman "my personal private life is very separate from my Internet life ... There's a firewall in between."<ref name=time/> As moot, he has spoken at conferences at ] and ].<ref name=time/> '']'' describes moot as "the most influential web entrepreneur you've never heard of".<ref name=ObserverGoogle>{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/jul/20/internet.google |title=The 20-year-old at heart of web's most anarchic and influential site|publisher='']''|author=David Smith|date=2008-07-20|accessdate=2008-07-20}}</ref> | |||
| ==References== | |||
| {{reflist|2}} | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| {{wikinewshas|related news| | |||
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| {{Anonymous and the Internet}} | |||
| {{featured article}} | |||
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